Tips for Reducing Pain following LASIK Surgery

For patients who suffer from vision impairment, LASIK offers the most precise vision correction. By making subtle changes to the curvature or shape of the cornea, eye surgeon Jerry Maida can correct vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. While LASIK is a pain-free procedure, there will be side effects following surgery. For our Jacksonville patients, LASIK pain or discomfort is a common side effect that is experienced during the first few days of recovery. While most patients only experience mild to moderate pain, helping patients maintain comfort is a primary goal of Dr. Maida’s. Here, Dr. Maida offers helpful tips that patients can follow to reduce the pain of LASIK surgery.

How Common Is LASIK Pain?

As with any surgical procedure, it is common for patients to experience some degree of pain or discomfort following a LASIK procedure. This discomfort is usually caused by the eyes becoming dry after surgery and will most likely result in a dry, itchy, burning sensation. Patients also often report that the eyes feel gritty, as if there is dirt or another small, foreign object lodged in the eye. It is most likely that patients will experience this discomfort during the first few days of recovery, with the majority of pain decreasing significantly within a week. This is a normal side effect of surgery and should not be cause for concern. Fortunately, most patients report that they feel only mild to moderate pain. Still, there are steps that can be taken to reduce this pain or discomfort even further.

Tips for Reducing LASIK Pain

Prior to undergoing LASIK surgery, patients will receive post-surgical care instructions. Adhering to these instructions after surgery is the best way to ensure that recovery goes smoothly and that pain and discomfort are controlled. The following tips and instructions should be followed during recovery in order to reduce post-surgical LASIK pain:

Patients should sleep or rest for the first several hours after returning home from LASIK surgery

Take prescribed pain medication according to instructions, preferably beginning before numbing eye drops have worn off

Wear sunglasses and avoid exposure to sunlight or bright lights

Use liquid tears to keep the eyes lubricated and to relieve dry, itchy eyes

Avoid rubbing or scratching the eyes

By following these tips, any pain or discomfort felt should be minimal. Within a week of recovery, most patients are free of the majority of LASIK side effects.

Signs of Complication

While some LASIK side effects are normal, such as dry eyes, glares and halos, and some discomfort, there are problems that may be signs of LASIK complication. Patients who experience severe pain or those who have unusual discharge should report these symptoms to Dr. Maida immediately, as they may be signs of infection or flap complications.

Schedule an Appointment

LASIK surgery has successfully corrected the vision of thousands of patients. If you are tired of relying on glasses or contact lenses for clear vision and would like to learn more about the LASIK procedure, schedule an appointment with Dr. Jerry Maida to find out if you are an ideal candidate for surgery. We look forward to meeting you!